quattro Magazine q4_2019: Event Report – Big SoCal Euro 2019

words: Bill, photos: Denis Podmarkov

Editor’s note: This article originally ran in the q4_2019 issue of quattro Magazine. If you would like to subscribe to quattro Magazine, join Audi Club here.

San Diego will always be known as a Navy town. The U.S. Pacific Fleet has its homeport there and some of its most technically advanced ships are based there including cruisers and destroyers. Well, it seems Big SoCal Euro wants to change San Diego into Audi Town. In one of the biggest shows on the West Coast, Big Euro has grown from small local events in 2001 to what it you see today. Thousands of European cars and their fans showed up to SDCCU Stadium on a hot sunny Sunday. 

The morning started off with a gathering of over 100 Audis at Fry’s Electronics just down the street from SDCCU Stadium. This is a yearly pre-show meet where everyone can catch up with friends and focus on Audi without distractions. After a while, everyone convoyed to the show. 

The Audi scene in Southern California is quite large. Clubs such as Audi Gruppe Silicon Valley, San Diego Audi Club, Audi Group LA, Audi Club Inland Empire, Agility Drives Us, and of course, Audi Club North America formed the backbone of a show within a show dubbed AudiFest. The Golden Gate, SoCal, and Arizona chapters represented Audi Club North America, with Arizona members driving several hours to show off their cars, which included an R8 V10 RWS. 

 AudiFest and the many brand clubs dominated the other Euro marques with over 200 vehicles on display amongst Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, Porsche, and even McLaren. 

The event’s vendor area was packed all day with spectators checking out familiar brands like HRE Wheels, Toyo Tires, and KW Suspension. A raffle completed the day with prizes that included wheels from HRE and Ace Alloy, Toyo tires, detailing products, and KW or ST coilover kits.  

Audi Club North America members walked away with several awards including one for the aforementioned RWS.  

If you haven’t attended this show, make your plans today. General admission is free and so is parking. San Diego may be known as a Navy town but with the strong showing for Audi this year, Audi Club may have to move its homeport there as it is seemingly becoming the epicenter for the marque.